Power operated receiver or recorder



Filed June 22, 1933 km. fm

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Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-lcs POWER OPERATED RECEIVER R RECORDER Application June 22, 1933, Serial No. 677,018

Claims. (Cl. 197-5) This invention relates to a power operated receiver or recorder adapted to be tripped by electrical impulses received from a remote point and operated to type a received message or other mat- 5 ter to be reproduced. The machine embodying the invention may be located at a point far distant from the transmitter or it may be located in the same room with the transmitter. In the former case the receiver is used for telegraphing or radiographing; in the latter, merely for duplicating.

It is a feature of' the invention that the typing instrumentalities are merely tripped by the received electrical impulses, and that the power required for driving the type bars and the other operating parts is supplied from a suitable source of power. The machine is adapted, therefore, to type the received message in a uniform manner regardless of the varying degrees of damping or fading which may occur in transmission. It is feasible with such an apparatus to apply the received signals directly or with uniform amplification to the operation of the typing means, without the intervention of punching instrumentalities for preparing a control tape or ribbon.

Other features of the invention relate to the provision of suitable electromagnetic means for operating the key levers and to the arrangement and adjustment of such means for assuring proper and dependable operation.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation illustrating a portion of a power operated typewriter having the improvements of the present invention applied thereto, and incorporated therein; and Y Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation on a larger scale than Figure 1, illustrating details of construction and mounting of a single one of the electromagnetic units.

The invention is illustrated as built into a power operated typewriter of standard construction. The illustrated machine is known as the Electromatic typewriter, and is characterized by the fact that the type bars do not have to be driven by force supplied by the operator, the keys being operated merely as triggers, and the power for driving the parts being supplied from a suitable source of power.

Brieiiy, the machine comprises a frame I, in which the type segment 2 is mounted. Type bars 3 are pivotally mounted upon a wire 4 that passes through the segment 2.

The keys 5 are carried by key levers 6 which are pivoted upon a rod 1. Some of the key levers have tails 8 which extend downward to the rear of a continuously running roller 9, and the other key levers have tails I0 which extend downward 5 in front of the continuously running roller 9. The tails 8 and III are bifurcatd and embrace, respectively, pins Il and I2 carried by bellcranks I3 and I4. The bellcranks I3 and I4 are pivoted respectively at I5 and I6 upon other bellcranks I1 l0 and I8. The bellcranks I1 and I8 are pivoted at i9 and 20, and carry at the lower ends thereof, rotary cams 2| and 22. The bellcrank I3 is provided at the lower end thereof with a lip 23 which normally stands in the position illustrated in Fig- 16 ure l, wherein it obstructs one of two pins 24 carried by the cam 2|, and thus prevents rotation of the cam. When a key lever 6 is depressed for rocking one of the tails 8 rearward, the associated bellcrank |3 is rocked counter-clockwise to move 20 the lip 23 clear of the pin 24. The cam 2| stands in engagement with the roller 9, which roller is continuously rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. As soon as the lip 23 is moved to a nonobstructing position, the roller 9 becomes eiec- 25 tive to'rotate the cam 2| through a half revolution. By the time that the cam has turned through a half revolution the lip 23 has been returned to position to intercept the other pin 24 on the cam, and so arrest rotation of the cam. 30 The rotation of the cam, however, serves to rock the bellcranks I1 in a clockwise direction. The bellcrank is thus caused to pull downward upon a link 25. This rocks a further bellcrank 26 in a clockwise direction, causing it to act through a 35 link 2l to pull forward upon another bellcrank 28. The bellcrank 28 is connected to the tail of the type bar 3', and serves to operate the type bar. The motion of the bellcrank 28 is controlled in part by a link 23 which is pivoted to bellcrank 28 40 and to the frame A contractile spring 30 connected to the bellcrank 28 tends to restore the parts to the positions indicated in Figure 1.

The tails I0 which are carried by other key levers act in a similar manner to withdraw a lip 45 3| from obstructing relation to pins 32 provided on the cam 22. This results through the bellcrank I8 and link 33 in the operation of the appropriate type bar in the manner already described.

The description up to this point has had to do only with those parts which are standard parts of the Electromatic typewriter.

For the purpose of tripping the key levers from a remote point of control, provision is made of an 55 attachment unit 34. This unit comprises a plurality of depending rods 35 which are secured to the frame I and which support at their lower ends an insulating plate 36. Each of the rods 35 has a reduced threaded portion 31 at the lower end thereof. The plate 36 is impaled upon these reduced threaded portions and is clamped in place by upper and lower nuts 38 and 39. The nuts 38 and 39 may obviously be adjusted to raise and lower the insulating plate 36. The insulating coil 4l which is connected through conductors 42 and 43 in a suitable circuit. The coil 4| is supported upon a metallic base 44 having a threaded stem 45. The stem 45 passes downward through compressible rubber washers 49 and through the insulating plate 36. A cap 41 is threaded upon the lower end of the stem 45 and may be turned to adjust the normal vertical position of the coil 40. 'Ihe rubber washers 46 are compressed more or less according to the adjustment of the cap 31 and are-made yieldable for the purpose of enabling such adjustment to be made. A pin 48 secured in the base 44 extends downward through the washers 46 and is received in a hole 49 formed in the insulated plate 36. The pin 48 prevents rotation of the coil 4l. The coil 4l is enclosed between non-conductive cylinders 50 and 5|, and between the upper ends of the cylinders provision is made of a ring 52.

A movable core or armature 53 of magnetic materials is received within the coil 4|. The core 53 is provided with a collar 54, which collar is adapted to be engaged with the lower face of the head of a screw 55. The screw L is threaded into the ring 52 and may be adjusted to control the upper limit of movement of the core 53. The core 53 has an eye 56 provided at the upper end thereof. This eye receives a rod 51 which extends upward from the core 53, and which forms a. connection between the core and one of the key levers 6. The electromagnetic mechanism and the connecting means described is duplicated for each of the key levers.

Each rod 51 has a bent portion 58 formed in it so that it will not be rigid and unyielding. 'I'hus at the moment when the circuit through an electromagnet is rst closed, when the minimum current is available and the maximum air gap and the maximum inertia of the key lever all concur to promote sluggish operation, the rod is permitted to stretch slightly. This permits the air gap to be reduced and facilitates the quick application of a substantial force for pulling the key lever downward. The curved portion of the key lever also comes into play when the key lever is arrested by a stop 59 at the lower limit of its movement. If, when the key lever is arrested, the electromagnet is still pulling downward on the core, or the core is still tending to travel downward as a result of the momentum previously gained, the curved portion 58 of the connecting rod 51 yields to ease the strain upon the parts.

Springs 60 connected to the key levers act as usual to return the key levers to their normal positions. The screws 55 are so adjusted on the various electromagnets that a uniform relation of the core to the coil is secured. The caps 41 are adjusted to effect individual adjustment of the electromagnets. The parts are adjusted in such a manner that the rods 51 hold the collars 54 up against the lower faces of the screws 55. 'I'he rods 51 are themselves held barely under tension by the adjustment secured.

It may be desirable from time to time to adjust the electromagnetic mechanism as a unit. For this purpose the nuts 38 and 39 may be adjusted up or down.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and in which references are made to the type bars as instrumentalities and the bell crank members and associated' linkages as power operated devices individual to said instrumentalities.

I claim:

1. In a power operated receiver or recorder, including a frame, a multiplicity of operating instrumentalities, power operating devices individual to such instrumentalities, and a keyboard comprising a multiplicity of keys each adapted to selectively trip one of the power operating devices; a multiplicity of separate electromagnetic units for operating the respective key levers, each having a lost motion connection with the associated key lever, said separate units being all assembled in a single compact, composite unit and a common supporting plate for said separate units attached to the frame, each separate unit including a compressible base member resting on the supporting plate, a. stem extending through the supporting plate, and an adjustable clamping member-cooperating with the stern to compress the base member more or less and thereby to adjust the vertical position of the unit.

2. In a power operated receiver or recorder, in combination, a multiplicity of instrumentalities, power operated devices individual to such instrumentalities. a keyboard comprising a multiplicity of keys each adapted to trip one of the power operated devices, electromagnetic devices associated with each key, and connecting means comprising a link or rod between each of the electromagnetic devices and the associated keys including lost motion means which form an integral part of the connecting means to permit the electromagnetic device to gain momentum before operating the associated key said lost motion means comprising a bent portion in said link or rod.

3. In a power operated receiver or recorder, in combination, a multiplicity of instrumentalities, power operated devices individual to such instrumentalities, a keyboard comprising a multiplicity of keys each adapted to trip one of the power operated devices, and a multiplicity of separate electromagnetic units associated with the respective key levers, said units being all assembled in a single compact composite unit and secured beneath the keyboard and connecting means comprising a link or rod between each of said units and key levers to operate the respective key levers, said connecting means including lost motion means which form an integral part of said connecting means and comprises a bent portion in said link or rod.

4. A remote controlled unit comprising a plurality oi.' instrumentalities, a plurality of controlling key levers, operated means disposed between said instrumentalities and key levers whereby the depression of the key levers are effective to operate the associated instrumentalities, electromagnetic devices, and connecting means' comprising a link or rod between said electromagnetic devices and the key levers including lost motion means which form an integral part of the connecting means to permit the electromagnetic device to gain momentum before operating the associated key lever said lost motion means comprising a bent portion in said link or rod.

5. A remote controlled unit comprising a plurality o1' instrumentalities, a plurality of controlling levers therefor, electromagnetic devices. and connecting means comprising a link or rod between said devices and levers including lost motion means which form an integral part of the connecting means to permit the electromagnetic device to gain momentum before operating the said levers said lost motion means comprising a bent portion in said link or rod.

WALTER S. LEMMON. 

